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What is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party service that legally employs workers on behalf of a company, handling all employer responsibilities such as payroll, benefits administration, tax compliance, and HR duties. This allows businesses to hire employees in foreign markets without the complexity, time, or expense of setting up a legal entity. While the EOR manages the legal and administrative aspects of employment, the company retains full control over the employee’s day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.
The benefits of using an EOR include:
- Reduced compliance risks with expert legal and tax support
- Faster international expansion without establishing local entities
- Streamlined payroll and benefits management across multiple countries
- Cost savings by avoiding the complexities of local entity setup
- Enhanced employee experience with professional HR and administrative support
- Greater flexibility to hire top talent globally without operational barriers
How We Picked the Best EOR Companies
We carefully evaluated a range of Employer of Record (EOR) providers based on key factors that matter most to businesses expanding internationally. Our selection process focused on:
- Industry Expertise: We prioritized companies with a proven track record in global employment, compliance management, and HR solutions. Each EOR on our list has years of experience managing international workforces.
- Compliance and Legal Integrity: Ensuring adherence to local labor laws and tax regulations is critical. We analyzed each EOR’s compliance framework, legal infrastructure, and ability to mitigate risks in multiple jurisdictions.
- Global Coverage and Local Presence: The best EORs offer extensive international coverage with well-established local entities or partnerships to facilitate seamless hiring and payroll management.
- Technology and Integration Capabilities: A modern EOR should offer a user-friendly platform with real-time reporting, self-service portals, and seamless integration with HR and payroll systems.
- Client Reviews and Testimonials: We considered real user feedback from businesses that have used these EORs, focusing on overall satisfaction, reliability, and support quality.
- Data Security and Compliance Standards: Since EORs handle sensitive employee information, we reviewed their adherence to global data security standards like GDPR and SOC 2 compliance.
- Pricing Transparency and Cost Efficiency: We looked at pricing structures, ensuring that providers offer clear, competitive, and scalable pricing models without hidden fees.
10 Top Employer of Record Companies in 2025
1. Playroll
Yes, we admit our bias, but can point to a proven track record of success when it comes to compliantly employing, managing and paying remote teams for businesses of any shape and size.
Playroll simplified our expansion into new markets by providing a comprehensive understanding of local regulations. Through this partnership, we could immediately tick the box on compliance, at no risk to BET Software.
Gizelle Govender, Senior People Partner, BET Software
As a global Employer Of Record, Playroll stands out for its cost effective pricing, without compromising on the quality of its EOR services or support. It offers truly human customer support for both employers and employees to simplify international employment. This is in contrast to many competitors that rely on ticketing systems, do not offer dedicated support, or upcharge for support. We are uncommonly flexible when it comes to the needs of our customers, going the extra mile to customize contracts and facilitating transfers between EOR and client entities as needed.
Playroll’s user-friendly platform allows you to employ, pay and manage employees and contractors alike in 180+ countries, and provides a team of experts that ensures compliance with shifting employment regulations. Other services include comprehensive localized benefits packages, immigration support, and streamlining global payroll operations.
Pricing: From $399 per month, per employee. No annual commitment required for affordable prices.
2. Papaya Global
Papaya Global is especially known for its comprehensive support in payroll processing, and is innovative when it comes to integrating AI within HR tech. They have a broad range of customization options available to customers.
On the downside, Papaya Global relies fully on third party partners to provide their services, instead of having its own infrastructure of owned entities. This can mean extra fees being passed on to customers, on top of already hefty monthly EOR fees. It also means the EOR provider always has to liaise with third-party partners when providing customer support, which can significantly delay their response times.
Pricing: From $599/month, per employee.
3. G-P (Globalization Partners)
G-P is a popular EOR choice that offers a broad range of products. They split their EOR services between a core and premium offering. This can be useful for businesses that are looking for a broad range of options to pick and choose from. They also have many options to tweak and customize services, and advanced data analytics.
Globalization Partners does have its cons. Their pricing is complex and obscure, with reports of high monthly fees. Many of their EOR features are only available with their premium product, and they’ve received some negative feedback for slow customer service. Overall, this could make them a poor fit for smaller companies that have more limited resources and require more hands-on support to make their first international hires.
Pricing: Not publicly disclosed.
4. OysterHR
OysterHR is known for their fun branding and user-friendly platform, with quick onboarding times reported. They have a wide country coverage, and solid compliance credentials behind their name.
On the other hand, they are priced at the upper end of the market for their EOR services, which can quickly prove to be a financial bottleneck for companies hoping to hire more than just a handful of international employees. In addition, there have been some reports of payroll mistakes and delays on public review sites.
Pricing: From $599/month, per employee if paying annually. Monthly plans are priced from $699 p/month.
5. Remote
Remote is a well-known EOR provider, with a focus on providing services through their own network of owned entities, which can be useful for businesses that want to avoid dealing with any additional third parties in the equation.
On the downside, their EOR fees are very high compared to some other names in the business, and they have received some negative reviews on slow customer service and multiple points of contact. They also don’t offer a very wide network of country coverage for EOR services, with less than 100 countries covered, which can limit your ability to scale as a business.
Pricing: From $599/month, per employee.
6. Deel
Deel is another well-established player in the EOR space, offering options to manage full-time employees and contractors in 150+ regions. They can be a good fit for businesses looking for an EOR partner with many owned entities, and a comprehensive range of integrations.
That said, Deel’s fees are expensive and require annual commitments for cheaper pricing, and they’ve received many negative reviews of hidden fees and unexpected costs. This can make it hard to properly budget for their services, and can prove too expensive for smaller businesses looking to scale globally.
Pricing: From $499/month, per employee if paying annually. Monthly plans are pricier, at $599 p/month.
7. Rippling
Rippling is a popular workforce management solution, and is especially known for their broad range of products that include payroll, finance and IT management. This can make them a good choice for companies looking for a single solution to workforce management.
If you’re looking for a specialist in global employment and EOR services though, there are some cons to consider. Their pricing is not publicly disclosed, though high fees are reported – and they’ve received negative reviews of a bloated product with a steep learning curve, as well as payroll errors.
Pricing: Not publicly disclosed.
8. Velocity Global
Velocity Global stands out for its wide country coverage as an EOR provider, at 185+ regions, which can make them a good choice for employers interested in stable support for any future growth plans.
They are another example of an EOR provider that doesn’t disclose their pricing publicly, with reports of steep monthly fees. Another downside is the many negative reviews they’ve received for slow customer service and multiple points of contact, which can make them a frustrating provider to deal with if you value quick response times to enquiries.
Pricing: Not publicly disclosed.
9. Multiplier
Multiplier offers good pricing for the EOR services, and has a solid library of extra global hiring resources available for employers. They also have all compliance credentials needed to mitigate risk for employers looking to hire internationally.
On the other hand, they take a complex approach to invoicing, and have received some reviews of slow and faulty payroll services. They’ve also received negative feedback on slow customer service. Overall, this can mean risk to your business if you value simple, timely payroll for employees.
Pricing: From $400/month, per employee.
10. WorkMotion
WorkMotion is an EOR service that specializes in supporting European companies, and can also assist with in-country registrations – which can make them a good choice for EU companies looking to expand their business.
As for its cons, WorkMotion charges very high EOR fees that only become more affordable when hiring many employees. They also don’t offer any support in hiring independent contractors, which can be detrimental to businesses that are looking for a single service to hire any type of worker across the globe. Lastly, they don’t have SOC2 certification, which many businesses require to safeguard their data when working with EOR providers.
Pricing: €649 p/month ($724) per employee for up to 4 employees. Price decreases if onboarding more people.
How to Choose an EOR Provider
Choosing the right Employer of Record company is a critical decision for companies looking to expand globally while ensuring compliance and seamless employee management. A reliable EOR can simplify hiring, payroll, benefits administration, and legal compliance, allowing businesses to focus on growth. Here’s how to select the best EOR partner for your needs.
1. Assess Compliance and Legal Expertise
One of the primary reasons for using an EOR is to navigate complex labor laws and regulations in foreign markets. Ensure the EOR has deep legal expertise in employment laws, tax compliance, and contractual obligations in each country of operation. A trustworthy EOR should provide up-to-date legal guidance and minimize compliance risks.
2. Verify Global Coverage and Local Presence
If you’re hiring internationally, confirm that the EOR has established entities or partnerships in your target countries. A strong local presence ensures smooth onboarding, payroll management, and regulatory adherence. Some EORs specialize in certain regions, so make sure their coverage aligns with your expansion goals.
3. Evaluate Payroll and Benefits Administration
A top-tier EOR should offer robust payroll solutions, including salary processing, tax deductions, and statutory contributions. Additionally, they should provide competitive employee benefits, such as healthcare, pensions, and insurance, in compliance with local laws. Ask for details on their payroll processing timelines, currency support, and error resolution processes.
4. Analyze Technology and Integration Capabilities
A modern EOR should leverage advanced technology for payroll, HR, and compliance tracking. Look for platforms that offer:
- Automated payroll processing
- Employee self-service portals
- Real-time reporting
- Integration with your HR systems
A tech-enabled EOR streamlines operations, improves transparency, and enhances the employee experience.
5. Review Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Support
Understanding the service levels provided by an EOR is crucial. Request details on response times, dispute resolution, and issue escalation. A reputable EOR should offer dedicated account management and 24/7 support, ensuring seamless operations across different time zones.
6. Compare Costs and Pricing Models
EOR pricing structures vary—some charge a flat fee per employee, while others use a percentage-based model. Make sure you understand the full cost, including any hidden fees for contract terminations, currency conversions, or compliance updates. The right EOR should offer transparent pricing with no surprises.
7. Check Reputation and Client Testimonials
Research the EOR’s track record by reading case studies, reviews, and testimonials from businesses in your industry. An experienced EOR with a solid reputation demonstrates reliability, expertise, and a proven ability to manage global workforces.
8. Ensure Data Security and Compliance Standards
Given the sensitive nature of employee data, the EOR should comply with global data protection regulations such as GDPR and SOC 2. Ask about their cybersecurity measures, data encryption policies, and disaster recovery plans to ensure your employees’ information is secure.
Key Employer of Record Services
An EOR provides a range of essential services to simplify global workforce management. Key services include:
- Payroll Processing: Handling salary payments, tax withholdings, and statutory deductions in compliance with local laws.
- Employee Benefits Administration: Offering healthcare, retirement plans, insurance, and other benefits according to local requirements.
- Compliance and Legal Support: Ensuring adherence to labor laws, tax regulations, and employment standards in each country.
- Employment Contracts and HR Support: Drafting legally compliant contracts and providing HR services like onboarding and employee relations.
- Work Visa and Immigration Assistance: Managing work permits, visas, and residency requirements for international employees.
- Termination and Offboarding Services: Handling contract terminations, severance, and exit processes in line with legal requirements.
Hire Globally with Playroll
Playroll ticks the boxes on robust compliance, broad country coverage and many owned entities. This is similar to many of the competitors mentioned on this list, and are some of the standard offerings you should look out for when choosing an EOR provider that offers comprehensive services.
Overall, though there are many strong EOR contenders on the market, Playroll stands out for its competitive pricing, as well as its on-the-ground support for businesses of all sizes – with dedicated support and flexibility for both employers and employees.
We believe quality support is the single most important trait for an EOR provider, since EORs support businesses that are expanding into jurisdictions they’re often unfamiliar with. This means quick responses to tricky compliance questions, flexibility to customer needs and a truly human touch is invaluable.
Book a chat with our team to find out how we can help you scale your global team.
Want Detailed Comparisons?
Compare the top EOR providers side-by-side, with a full breakdown on cost, support, coverage and more.
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